He was immediately drawn to Iskashitaa Refugee Network after his first community harvest in 2011. As a pediatrician, his educational path included Johns Hopkins University, Tulane University, and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He began his practice in Nogales as a member of The National Health Service Corps. Later, after practicing one year in Malawi, he completed his public health degree at the University of Arizona and ultimately joined their pediatric faculty practice, including serving as medical director of Casa de los Niños. He is committed to improving the social, emotional, and physical health of our most vulnerable residents. As a board member, he would like all Southern Arizonans to experience the social, cross-cultural and agricultural enjoyment of an Iskashitaa harvest and related activities to encourage inclusion.

She is an activist, journalist and photographer. Since retiring three years ago from a lifetime of professional work in the Jewish community - the majority of which was at HIAS, the Jewish refugee agency - she has devoted herself to volunteer work, primarily with refugees both here and abroad. She is madly in love with Tucson, where she is a full-time winter resident and comes as frequently as possible throughout the year. In NJ, where she spends the rest of the year, she is the lead on the welcome team for a family of refugees that arrived from Syria in May. She is particularly pleased to be on the board of Iskashitaa, because she thinks it’s merging of food justice and refugee work is a brilliant business model.

Joan is a Tucson resident of eight years. She is a microfinance consultant and has worked all over the world. She served on nonprofit boards since 2010, including her neighborhood association board. She joined the Iskashitaa board in 2014. She is committed to improving the lives of the refugees with whom Iskashitaa works, and to making Iskashitaa a more sustainable organization with greater outreach so as to benefit more refugees.

Mathurin is originally from Chad, Africa, has an Associate in Business Management from Pima Community College and recently graduated with his Business degree with an emphasis in global business from NAU. Mathurin is was an AVID Tutor at Catalina Magnet High School, and now works in solar energy at Technicians for Sustainability. After serving as an AmeriCorps member for three years, Mathurin came to Iskashitaa with a deep appreciation of refugees’ challenges and the importance of community nonprofits. He served as Treasurerer on the Iskashitaa Board of Directors. His path as an Iskashitaa Board Member and volunteer aligns with his academics and future endeavors to make the world a better place.

Margaret is a leader in social services in the Tucson Community with 20 years of experience working with diverse populations. She earned her Master’s in Education with a focus on curriculum development as well as her Bachelor of Public Health with an emphasis in community health education. Additionally, she is certified in Parent Education, Mental Health First Aid and skilled at trauma-informed care and cultural responsiveness. She is actively involved in the Tucson Community as a director at a local nonprofit and member of multiple coalitions. Margaret has a proven record of accomplishment working with diverse populations including immigrants in culturally responsive ways. Margaret directed a refugee resettlement program for several years and that is when she first met Iskashitaa Refugee Network in action.